Compare towns
Johnston vs Putnam vs Killingly vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Johnston | Putnam | Killingly | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,835Highest |
7,120Lowest |
17,867 |
22,233 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,614 48% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Johnston | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Johnston Senior High | — | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.